Command hierarchy: Difference between revisions

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=== Military chain of command ===

{{Military ranks}}

{{Military units}}

In a [[military]] context, the ''chain of command'' is the line of authority and responsibility along which orders are passed within a [[military unit]] and between different units. In simpler terms, the chain of command is the succession of leaders through which command is exercised and executed. Orders are transmitted down the chain of command, from a responsible superior, such as a [[commissioned officer]], to lower-ranked subordinate(s) who either execute the order personally or transmit it down the chain as appropriate, until it is received by those expected to execute it. "Command is exercised by virtue of office and the special assignment of members of the Armed Forces holding military rank who are eligible to exercise command."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.whs.mil/library/mildoc/AR%20600-20,%2020%20August%201986.pdf|title=Army Regulation 600-20 20AUG86|access-date=2018-01-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131928/http://www.whs.mil/library/mildoc/AR%20600-20,%2020%20August%201986.pdf|archive-date=2018-01-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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Companies and non-military organizations often have command lead by [[Business executive|executives]] and [[upper management]], with lesser authority delegated to employees in the lower ranks.<ref name=":0" />

== Problems ==

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People of compatible views often have similar [[systemic bias]]es because they are from the same culture. Such problems as [[groupthink]] or willingness to accept one standard of evidence internal to the group, but require drastically higher evidence from outside, are common.

In part to address these problems, much modern [[management science]] has focused on reducing reliance on command hierarchy especially for [[information flow]], since the cost of communications is now low, and the cost of management mistakes is higher. It is also easier to replace [[Management|managers]], so they have a personal interest in more distributed responsibility and perhaps more [[consensus decision making]].

Ubiquitous command and control posits for military organizations, a generalisation from hierarchies to networks that allows for the use of hierarchies when they are appropriate, and non-hierarchical networks when they are inappropriate. This includes the notion of ''mission agreement'', to support "edge in" as well as "top-down" flow of intent.

==See also==

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{{Reflist}}

{{Military units}}

{{Authority control}}